Arsenal open talks to sign £58m star with Andrea Berta pushing for move
Arsenal have made the first move...
Arsenal have opened initial talks with Viktor Gyokeres’ representatives over a move to bring the striker to the Emirates this summer.
Gyokeres is expected to leave Sporting Lisbon this summer after another stunning campaign in Portugal, scoring 52 goals in 48 appearances.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are among the Swede’s many suitors with Arsenal also developing strong interest.
The 26-year-old only wants to join a club competing in the Champions League next season with some reports suggesting he would favour a move to north London.
Bringing in a new centre forward will be a top priority for the club and new sporting director Andrea Berta, who arrived at the club from Atletico Madrid in March.
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Berta is said to be very keen on bringing Gyokeres to Arsenal with work already underway to get the deal over the line.
Sky Sports Germany report talks between the club and Gykoeres’ management team are underway. The Sweden international is not thought to have made any commitments over his next club at this stage.
Bayern Munich are also no longer thought to be in the running.
Arsenal also have long-standing interest in Alexander Isak but Newcastle’s huge asking price could price them out.
Gyokeres would represent a much more affordable deal with Sporting said to be happy to part ways with their prized asset for a fee between £58-63million.
Gyokeres has so far remained coy on his next move, telling reporters in April: ‘No one can predict what will happen, we enjoy the moment.’
Which Premier League club should Viktor Gyokeres join?
Arsenal
It’s obvious why a move to the Emirates Stadium might appeal to Gyokeres. Arsenal look set for a third successive second-place finish in the Premier League and they have come so close to winning the title without an out-and-out striker.
Gyokeres would be an immediate upgrade on Mikel Arteta’s current options, which include ex-Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, the injured Gabriel Jesus and makeshift striker (at least since Arsenal’s injury crisis) Mikel Merino.
More than just a goalscorer – as 11 assists so far this season shows – Gyokeres would also thrive in an Arsenal team that requires more from their forwards than just a poacher.
Players speak glowingly of Arteta and Arsenal would be a stable environment for Gyokeres to continue his development and perhaps be the difference for a team who have aspirations of winning trophies on the regular over the next few years.
Manchester United
Old Trafford was immediately tipped as Gyokeres’ future destination when Ruben Amorim left Sporting Lisbon to replace Erik ten Hag.
Gyokeres’ incredible first season came under Amorim and the ex-Sporting boss looks set to welcome a new striker to the club this summer after being left underwhelmed by expensive but struggling signings Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.
The chance to reunite with Amorim will be tempting for Gyokeres, who would also be joining one of the biggest clubs in the world despite their recent struggles.
The problem, of course, is Manchester United – in the bottom-half of the Premier League – will be without Champions League football next season, barring a surprising Europa League triumph.
Liverpool
Gyokeres in on course to leave Sporting Lisbon as a title winner so who better to join than the new Premier League champions?
Liverpool, on the verge of becoming English champions in Arne Slot’s first season at Anfield, could be the perfect platform for Gyokeres.
Slot has managed without a recognised centre forward this season but Jamie Carragher is among those calling for the arrival of a new striker amid reports Darwin Nunez is on his way out.
Liverpool could lose Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk this summer but winning the race to sign Gyokeres would be a significant coup and give Slot a reasonable chance of defending the title.
Louis Sealey | Deputy Sports Editor, Metro
Asked about a reported agreement between the club and himself to let him go in the summer, the 26-year-old added: ‘I can’t say anything about that.’
Ruben Amorim was thought to be keen on a reunion with his former Sporting star at Manchester United.
The club are already looking at alternatives however with Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap top of their list. United’s summer transfer plans will be considerably boosted if they can secure Champions League qualification by winning the Europa League, having taken one step into the final after beating Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.
But Amorim has suggested he does not want to sign players whose sole focus is on playing in Europe’s premier competition.
if a player only wants to come to Man United to play Champions League, then he won’t come,’ Amorim said.
‘We want players who want to represent United, not players who want to play certain competitions.’
